Hot toys hit the shelves for holiday season

Richard Fabrizio

Sunday

Nov 3, 2002 at 2:00 AMDec 17, 2010 at 2:56 AM

PORTSMOUTH — A Santa Claus list of exciting toys are vying to be this season's hottest item. Perhaps even a toy to rival the retail insanity sparked years ago by Cabbage Patch dolls, which by the way are making a comeback.

Brian Bourque, store director of Toys ?R Us in Newington, said the retail segment of the "silly season" unofficially gets underway today.

Toys ?R Us released its "big book" or Christmas Wish List Book this weekend. Bourque provided a tour of the store this past week, stopping to show off the many contenders for toy of the year.

The list is as diverse as it is long, but there is at least one common denominator. Shopping early improves the chances of filling Santa's sleigh with the desired items.

Top contenders include the traditional with the newest twists such as Rapunzel Barbie. Others include all new items such as BeyBlades, a 21st century version of spinning tops, and FurReal Cats. The latter mechanical feline responds to human touch by twitching its tail, arching its back, meowing and purring.

"Those are going to be the tough ones to keep in stock," Bourque said. "It's already started. They're here one day and they're gone."

Kim Fraser, of Hampton, set out on her Christmas shopping on November's first day. She successfully snagged two Dora the Explorer "We Did It" Dancing Dora dolls for her daughters. Her 21-month-old daughter, Macy, expressed delight as mom put the dolls in the shopping cart, which sort of resembles Santa's sleigh.

"It's her favorite toy," Fraser said. "I read somewhere that it was going to be popular this year, so I'm here now."

Each Bratz doll comes with accessories accentuating a cutting-edge sense of style.

Another item expected to take off this year is the Singing Starz video karaoke machine, which debuted a few years ago and is gaining in popularity.

"Last year, it got big," Bourque said. "This year I think it's going to be even bigger."

Robin Souther, manager of Tree Top Toys in downtown Portsmouth, said traditional items are expected to lead the way this season. Gifts such as musical items, books and puzzles are surefire winners. Souther is waiting to see what, if any, toy dominates this year.

"There doesn't seem to be that one "gotta have thing" this year," she said.

The return to the holiday scene of Cabbage Patch Kids is unlikely to stir the same reaction as the dolls? heyday in the 1980s. Classic stories told of lines forming hours before stores opened, shoppers fighting one another. and black market parking lot sales that fetched hundreds of dollars for a $25 product.

But as Bourque says simply, "you never know."

Other items that created retail frenzies include the Power Rangers, Tickle-me Elmo, Beanie Babies and Pogs. Care Bears, another wildly popular toy from Christmas past, is making its own comeback.

"Care Bears are definitely back," Bourque said.

Bob Breneman, owner of G. Willikers! in downtown Portsmouth, believes his toy store has a couple of the more unique items this year. One is the Neurosmith Musini, a battery operated machine that senses motion and plays music in step with it. Music includes Bach, jazz and carnival tunes.

"If you start dancing around, it will play its own symphony," Breneman said. "It combines activity and music for kids. I'm sure it's going to be very popular.

"Truly unique toys don't come along that often and this is one."

Another unique offering is a Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees chess game. Players serve as dedicated pieces such as the manager serving as the king. Breneman said the chess set was extremely popular this summer and is expected to find its way into family gift piles.

"I suspect at least half of those receiving it are grown-ups, dads perhaps," he said.

Another gift perfect for grown-ups and kids alike is the Trivial Pursuit 20th anniversary edition, which includes questions on events and facts from 1982 on only. Bourque said it's going to be a winner.

"You don't have to know who the Russian czar was," Bourque said. "You don't feel as stupid playing it."

Hot toys for the holiday season:

BeyBlades

Bratz dolls

Cabbage Patch Kids

Care Bears

Disney Princess

Dora the Explorer

FurReal Cats

G.I. Joe's line of items

Groovy Girls rag dolls and accessories

Harry Potter Lego sets

Kasey the Kinderbot learning aid

Leap Frog preschool toys

Modifiers custom stock cars

Neurosmith's Musini motion detection music machine

Power Max Rescue Heroes action figures

Rapunzel Barbie

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Misfit Toys

Singing Starz video karaoke machine

Sony PlayStation, Nintendo GAMECUBE, Microsoft XBox

Spider-Man dolls and video games

SpongeBob Squarepants dolls

Street Thunder mini skateboards

Super Racing mini-radio controlled car

Trivial Pursuit 20th anniversary edition

Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game

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